Anchor and bracket arrangement for rail



March 12, 1968 J. J. ATTAWAY 3,

ANCHOR AND BRACKET ARRANGEMENT FOR RAIL Filed Oct. 11, 1966 R/m mm b b mw w 34 m w w 2% c/w w l INVENTOR Ju/ian J. Af/away ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent Ofiiice 3,372,909 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,909 ANCHORAND BRACKET ARRANGEMENT FOR RAIL Julian J. Attaway, 4520 Elrndale Drive,Tucker, Ga. 30084 Filed Oct. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 535,800 6 Claims. (Cl.25669) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railingsand in rail mountings, and more particularly is concerned with a bracketwherein there are features which share with a rail for the rail to beengaged and supported to a support structure.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of apractical and reliable rail and bracket arrangement having an anchortherein which is easy to assemble with a rail and be engaged with asupport structure, and which arrangement furthermore contributesselectivity between having the rail and the anchor in the assemblyinterlocked laterally of the rail with freedom for adjustment in therelative positioning thereof to be made longitudinally of the rail andhaving the rail and the anchor interlocked laterally of the rail andsecurely held against relative movement longitudinally of the rail.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in partpointed out more fully hereinafter.

In connecting rails to a support structure such as to posts or a wall,and for such purposes as to achieve railings for stairways or railingsfor other indoor or outdoor uses, problems heretofore have beenencountered in achieving placement of a rail in a desired positionlongitudinally thereof with reference to the rail support brackets.Often it has been a problem that to secure the brackets to the supportstructure and thus support the rail destroys maneuverability of the raillongitudinally of the rail so that a more exacting allocation of thesupported rail endwise of the rail cannot be achieved except perhapsthrough loosening the brackets on the support structure enough to allowthe adjustment, this at the sacrifice of maintaining any particularlateral position of the rail relative to the support structure. Throughlack of sustaining a position of the latter kind it is difficult toeffect a longitudinal movement of the rail and have the brackets guidethe movement. Furthermore many of the brackets in the prior art are oftypes which in no way can be shifted with respect to the rail along thelength of the rail and thereafter be secured to fix a new position onthe rail.

Such as to avoid the cumbersome arrangement of having the bracketsurround the exterior of the rail, it has heretofore been the practiceto engage the bracket and rail interiorly of the rail. Practices of thelatter sort often have failed to offer an adequate solution to theproblem of insertion of the bracket in the rail and therefore haverequired activities other than at the desired point of vantage duringinstallation or an order of working which is objectionable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rail and bracketarrangement wherein a pair of lugs of an anchor and a rail areconstructed for an inner portion of each of the lugs to be insertedlaterally of the rail starting from a region selected between theopposite longitudinal ends of the rail to introduce the inner portionsof the lugs into a longitudinal slot in the rail, with an innerenlargement of the slot enabling the pair of lugs to be disposed in anopposed relation and connected externally of the rail to have the innerportions thereof interlocked with the rail laterally of the rail and yethave the pair of lugs remain in a relatively movable relation with therail before being connected to the rail to fix the position of the lugsrelative to the rail.

The present invention accordingly embodies a rail and bracketarrangement wherein there is an anchor including a pair of discrete lugshaving contacting legs for the lugs to be back to back and each of thelugs having a lateral extension of the leg thereof, for the anchor to begenerally T-sha-ped in transverse cross section and outer ends of theextensions to be outward from opposite sides of the legs when the lugsare securely held back to back. There is a set screw for at least one ofthe lugs and the screw threadedly engages the lateral extension of thelug within an opening leading from a first side of the extension to asecond side of the extension in a direction away from the leg of the lugand having a driving end which is accessible adjacent to the first sideand an inner end to advance outside the second side. A rail having aninwardly laterally oppositely enlarging longitudinal slot entering theunderneath side thereof is characterized by the slot being of a size andproportion for each of the lugs separately to have the lateral extensionof the lug inserted into the slot laterally of the slot and the pair oflugs brought into the aforementioned back to back relation and securelyheld having the extensions slidable longitudinally of the rail in theslot and interlock with the rail laterally of the rail for the set screwto be driven to have the inner end thereof engage the rail inside theslot and secure the anchor against movement along the length of therail. A connector means associated With the anchor forms a bracket withthe anchor and in doing so serves for engaging the legs of the pair oflugs in the aforementioned back to back relation of the lugs to asupport structure, having the lateral extensions of the pair of lugsinserted in the slot to interlock the anchor with the rail.

In the accompanying drawing representing a structure wherein the presentinvention is embodied:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a railing wherein posts and a hand railare shown broken away having interconnecting brackets;

FIGURE 2 is a top URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross section taken at 3-3 in FIGURE 1 havingthe rail and bracket secured to the post; and

FIGURE 4 corresponds to FIGURE 3 and is a View partially exploded andpartially in transverse cross section with the post screw indicatedbroken away.

Like reference characters denote like components throughout the severalfigures of the drawing.

Turning now more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, arailing 10 including as a portion thereof at least one rail 11, such asa hand rail, and a plurality of brackets 14, is associated with a firmsupport structure which in the present instance comprises the verticalposts 12 suitably secured at lower portions thereof not shown. For eachof the posts 12, one of the brackets 14 of the railing 10 interconnectsthe rail 11 with the post. Also, in the present embodiment an innerlongitudinal end 11a of the rail abuts wall 13 of a building or the likeand has an outer longitudinal end 11b which for example may be aterminal end of the railing 10 as shown or the railing may include afurther section having a rail similar in cross section to theaforementioned rail, abutting the end 1112 and extending longitudinallyfrom that end while securely supported on brackets of the characterdescribed herein.

Rail 11 has a longitudinal slot 15 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) entering theunderside continuously from end 11a to end 11b of the rail subject ofcourse to having the slot interrupted locally at a point or points alongone length of the rail as by cutting or drilling to meet specializeddemands under certain circumstances. The slot 15 is of uniformtransverse cross section throughout while being plan view correspondingto FIG- 3 -elatively narrow in the region of the entrance into theinderside of the rail and widens inwardly of the rail in :ach ofopposite directions laterally of the rail. Thus, 15 components of therail 11, there are laterally and ongitudinally extending integralmembers 16 and 17 having spaced opposed lateral ends 16a and 17:: at theentrance of the slot 15. Inwardly of the rail the members 16 and 17 havefaces 16b and 1% between which and the still farther inward surface 110of the rail 11 the slot 15 enlarges giving side cavities 15a and 1511.Rail 11 in the present embodiment is a metallic product of extrusion,although the rail may instead be made from any suitable material ormaterials and by any suitable production method as occasion may demand.Also, in the particular embodiment shown the slot 15, regarded intransverse cross section of the rail 11, has the general configurationof a T which is upright with reference to the underside of the rail.

Since all of the brackets 14 in the railing are substantially alike, adescription now to be directed to the structure of one of the bracketsin association with that of the rail 11 while having reference to one ofthe posts 12 will give an adequately detailed insight to the structureof the railing 10 and provide an example of how the railing may bemounted. Thus, referring more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, bracket14 includes an anchor 13 com-prising a pair of similar discrete lugs 19and 20 and connector means including a sleeve 32 and a main mountingscrew 33 of the bracket by which the lugs 19 and 20 and the rail 11 maybe supported to the post 12, having the pair of lugs inserted in theslot 15 to interlock the anchor 13 with the rail. The lugs 19 and havecontacting legs 1% and 26a for the lugs to be back to back at theirlegs, and the lugs have lateral extensions 19b and 26b which areintegral with the inner ends of the respective legs 19a and 23a, for theanchor 18 to be generally T-shaped in transverse cross section and outerends 190 and 26c of the extensions 1% and 26b to be outward fromopposite sides of the legs 19a and 20a when the lugs of the pair aresecurely held back to back. In the present arrangement the lateralextensions 1% and 20b compositely are generally T-shaped themselves intransverse cross section in the back to back relation of the lugs 19 and20 and, as such, are of a size and proportion to be slidablelongitudinally of the rail 11 in the slot 15 and interlock with the railmembers 16 and 17 and secure the anchor 18 to the rail laterally of therail when the lugs 19 and 20 are securely held. A further featureresides in the fact that the lugs 19 and 2t) and the slot 15 areproportioned for each of the lugs to be inserted one at a time into theslot to achieve their back to back relation this by first bringing thelateral extension of one of the lugs into the slot laterally of the slotto behind one of the rail members 16 and 17 and in turn bringing thelateral extension of the other of the lugs into the slot laterally ofthe slot to behind the other of the rail members and then relativelymoving the lugs in the slot to establish the back to back relation.

Set screws 22 and 24 threadedly engage the lateral extensions 1% and 20bof lugs 19 and 21) respectively in openings 23 and 25 leading from firstor outer sides of the extensions in a direction away from legs 19a and21):: and the screws have driving ends 22a and 24a adjacent to therespective first sides of the extensions and inner ends 22b and 24b tobe advanced beyond the respective second sides and apply thrust from theanchor 18 to the rail 11, having the extensions 1% and 20b interlockedin the slot 15 with the rail members 16 and 17 against escape laterallyof the rail and the extensions immobilized by means of these screwsagainst movement longitudinally of the rail.

The legs 153a and Mia have lateral openings 31 and 31 which are inalignment concurre tly with the legs having the back to back relahereinbefore described, The connector means associate-u in the bracket11: with the anchor 18 is installed by introducing the sleeve 32 endwiseoutside leg 19a to receive the main mounting screw 31 in the bracket.Screw 33 is added to have its head 33a outside leg 20a and its shank 33breaching through the le openings 31 and 31 and through the sleeve 32.Threads available in the screw shank 33b beyond the far end of thesleeve from the anchor 18 are engaged with threads in the post 12 andthe screw 33 is tightened to secure the legs 1% and Ztla and sleeve 32to the post and clamp the legs securely between the head. 35a and thesleeve, having the lateral extensions 1% and Zdb engaging the rail 11 inthe rail slot 15. A thimble or cap 4t) having a radial set screw ttlacovers the head 33/1 of the main screw to the adjacent face of leg 29aand is held to this screw head by the set screw endwise in contact withthis head.

Referring to the railing 10 in FIGURE 1 and to each of the brackets 14installed on the related post and engaging the rail 11 in the mannerjust described, it will be appreciated that the rail 11, on having theset screws 22 and 24 in released positions in the anchors 18, may belongitudinally moved on the anchors while still later ally interlockedwith the anchors, such as to attain abut merit against the wall 13 orany desired extent of clear ance from this wall, and then belongitudinally fixed in position by setting the screws 22 and 24 in theanchors to their holding portions against the rail.

In the present embodiment, the lugs 19 and 20 are provided with meansfor interconnecting the lugs in their back to back relation before thesleeve 32 and main screw 33 mount and clamp the anchor to the post Thus,a further fastening in each of the anchors 18 includes a headed screw 26and involves the legs 1% and 21111 and apertures 27 and 28 axiallydirected laterally of these legs, the first of these apertures being inleg 1% between Opening 30 and the lug extension 1% and the second ofthese apertures leading into but preferably not all the way through theleg 26a for the two apertures to be in open axial alignment with eachother in the previously described back to back relation of the legs. Theshank of screw 26 has a reach through apertures 27 and 28 whereby thehead of the screw preferably and, as shown, is outside leg 1%, thuseventually to be concealed toward the post 12 or support structure, andthe shank engages leg 29a in the aperture 28 for the screw to betightened and secure the back to back relation of the legs. Although incertain embodiments still in accordance with the present invention themeans for fastening the legs 19a and 20a together in advance of thebracket 14 being mounted to the support structure may be omitted fromthe anchor structure, it will be appreciated that through use of thefastening, directly as a component of the anchor, a number of advantagesare had including the fact that where desired the anchor lugs may beinstalled in the rail slot 15 and he fixed in position longitudinally ofthe rail by the set screws 22 and 24 before mounting the anchor to thesupport structure.

As the invention lends itself to many possible embodiments and as manypossible changes may be made in the embodiment hereinbcfore set forth,it will distinctly be understood that all matter described herein is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

I claim:

1. A rail and anchor arrangement comprising, an anchor including a pairof discrete lugs having contacting legs for said lugs to be back to backand each of said lugs having a lateral extension integral with an innerend of said leg thereof for outer ends of said extensions: to be outwardfrom opposite sides of said legs and said anchor to be generallyT-shaped in transverse cross section when said lugs are securely heldback to back, and a set screw for at least one of said lugs, said setscrew threadedly engaging said lateral extension of the lug within anopening leading from a first side of said extension to a second side ofsaid extension in a direction away from the leg of said lug and having adriving end accessible adjacent to said first side and an inner end toadvance outside said second side, and a rail having an inwardlylaterally oppositely enlarging slot entering the underneath side thereofand said slot being of a size and proportion for each of said lugsseparately to have said lateral extension thereof inserted into saidslot laterally of the slot at a location intermediate the oppositelongitudinal ends of said rail and said lugs brought into said back toback relation, thereafter to be securely held having said extensionsinterlocked with said rail laterally of said rail and slidablelongitudinally of said rail in said slot and having said set screw to bedriven for said inner end thereof to engage said rail and secure saidanchor interlocked with said rail laterally of said rail againstmovement along the length of said rail.

2. A rail and anchor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidanchor further includes a screw fastening extending through an openingin one of said legs and threadedly engaging the other of said legswithin an opening in the latter for securely holding said lugs back toback while said lateral extensions interlock said anchor with said rail.

3. A rail and anchor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidlugs in said back to back relation thereof in said anchor arecharacterized by said lateral extensions compositely being generallyT-shaped in transverse cross section themselves for interlocking withsaid rail in said slot.

4. A rail and bracket arrangement, comprising an anchor including a pairof discrete lugs having contacting legs for said lugs to be back to backand each of said lugs having a lateral extension integral with an innerend of said leg thereof, for said anchor to be generally T-shaped intransverse cross section and outer ends of said extensions to be outwardfrom opposite sides of said legs when said lugs are securely held backto back, and a set screw for at least one of said lugs, said set screwthreadedly engaging said lateral extension of the lug within an openingleading from a first side of said extension to a second side of saidextension in a direction away from the leg of said lug and having adriving end accessible adjacent to said first side and an inner end tcadvance outside said second side, a rail having an inwardly laterallyoppositely enlarged longitudinal slot entering the underneath sidethereof and said slot being of a size and proportion for each of saidlugs separately to have said lateral extension thereof inserted intosaid slot laterally of the slot and said lugs brought into said back toback relation and securely held having said extensions slidablelongitudinally of said rail in said slot and interlocked with said raillaterally of said rail for said set screw to be driven to have saidinner end thereof engage said rail and secure said anchor againstmovement along the length of said rail, and connector means for engagingsaid legs securely with a support structure to support said lugs in saidback to back relation having said lateral extensions inserted in saidslot to interlock said anchor with said rail.

5. A rail and bracket arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidlegs have lateral openings aligned with each other in said back to backrelation of said lugs, and said connector means includes a sleeveoutside one of said legs, and a main screw having a head outside theother of said legs and a shank extending through said apertures in bothof said legs and through said sleeve for said main screw to engage saidlegs and said sleeve with a support structure and clamp said legssecurely between said head and said sleeve.

6. A rail and bracket arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidlugs in said back to back relation thereof in said anchor arecharacterized by said lateral extensions compositely being generallyT-shaped in transverse cross section themselves for interlocking withsaid rail in said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,095 2/1959 Blum 256653,289,381 12/1966 Elum et al. 256-65 X 3,306,641 2/1967 Blum et al.256-65 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. DENNIS L. TAYLOR,Examiner.

1. A RAIL AND ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, AN ANCHOR INCLUDING A PAIROF DISCRETE LUGS HAVING CONTACTING LEGS FOR SAID LUGS TO BE BACK TO BACKAND EACH OF SAID LUGS HAVING A LATERAL EXTENSION INTEGRAL WITH AN INNEREND OF SAID LEG THEREOF FOR OUTER ENDS OF SAID EXTENSIONS TO BE OUTWARDFROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LEGS AND SAID ANCHOR TO BE GENERALLYT-SHAPED IN TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION WHEN SAID LUGS ARE SECURELY HELDBACK TO BACK, AND A SET SCREW FOR AT LEAST ONE OF SAID LUGS, SAID SETSCREW THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID LATERAL EXTENSION OF THE LUG WITHIN ANOPENING LEADING FROM A FIRST SIDE OF SAID EXTENSION TO A SECOND SIDE OFSAID EXTENSION IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE LEG OF SAID LUG AND HAVING ADRIVING END ACCESSIBLE ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST SIDE AND AN INNER END TOADVANCE OUTSIDE SAID SECOND SIDE, AND A RAIL HAVING AN INWARDLYLATERALLY OPPOSITELY ENLARGING SLOT ENTERING THE UNDERNEATH SIDE THEREOFAND SAID SLOT BEING OF A SIZE AND PROPORTION FOR EACH OF SAID LUGSSEPARATELY TO HAVE SAID LATERAL EXTENSION THEREOF INSERTED INTO SAIDSLOT LATERALLY OF THE SLOT AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE THE OPPOSITELONGITUDINAL ENDS OF SAID RAIL AND SAID LUGS BROUGHT INTO SAID BACK TOBACK RELATION, THEREAFTER TO BE SECURELY HELD HAVING SAID EXTENSIONSINTERLOCKED WITH SAID RAIL LATERALLY OF SAID RAIL AND SLIDABLELONGITUDINALLY OF SAID RAIL IN SAID SLOT AND HAVING SAID SET SCREW TO BEDRIVEN FOR SAID INNER END THEREOF TO ENGAGE SAID RAIL AND SECURE SAIDANCHOR INTERLOCKED WITH SAID RAIL LATERALLY OF SAID RAIL AGAINSTMOVEMENT ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID RAIL.